In Steven Pressfield’s second book, Turn Pro, he continues his mission, helping us move from amateurs to professionals.  His secret is simple, change your mindset – no products or courses necessary!

Steven understands the fake life of an amateur, he spent many years in shadow careers before the jump to pro.  Today, his published works include 13 books.  His books on Ancient Greece are recommended reading for Oxford History classes. Yet at one time he lived in a halfway house with no ambition.

Since those times, he’s realized that “Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence. “Ambition is embracing the unique calling of your Soul

Don’t Live in the Shadows

The shadow career coined by Steven is a metaphor for our real career – similar in shape and feeling.  However, a shadow career entails no real risk.  When we are terrified of embracing our true calling, we pursue this path.

The author understands this path very well.  He wanted the free lifestyle of a writer but followed the path of a truck driver, migrant fruit picker, and a dozen other jobs.  Throughout all these jobs and locations, he carried his trusty Smith Corona typewriter, but never typed a word.  Finally, with the help of a mentor, he sat his butt down and wrote his first novel.  It didn’t sell, but he learned about the path of the pro.

I understand his shadow career.  I’ve lived it.  For several years I built my writing business on the side.  My goal was to leave my corporate IT job once my side business had “taken off” and I was out of debt, and had $savings in the bank.     I unconsciously sabotaged myself by buying things for my business. At least that was my rationale.    By the way, rationalization is the #1 buddy of resistance.

Are you a Master?

Steven was a master at hiding.  Besides shadow careers, he discusses the many ways we hide from our true calling.  One such method is via addictions (both healthy and unhealthy).   There are the obvious addictions (drugs, sex) but also the things we call distractions (web surfing, texting, hobbies)

He analyzes our addictions to failure, sex, drugs, distractions, money, trouble and how we use them to stop us from turning pro.    He also analyzes the characteristics of an amateur (fear, others’ opinions, inauthentic, distractions, instant gratification, and jealousy).

Addiction becomes a surrogate for our calling.  We enact the addiction instead of embracing the calling.  Why?  Because to follow a calling requires work.  It’s hard.  It hurts.  It demands entering the painful zone of effort, risk, and exposure.

So we take the amateur route instead and hang out with resistance in its many wonderful forms.

Tweets, Facebook, Pinterest – all forms of resistance.  We can say it’s marketing, but after several hours it’s avoidance (from the real work).

It is an eye-opening read.  You can’t continue to use your excuses after reading this section. Well, maybe you can if you’re a master – but you will be only lying to yourself.

Cut From the Same Cloth

To Steven, artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs are cut from the same cloth.  Their lives are meant to follow the muse.  Through that muse, we create novels, artwork or companies.  We are willing to pay the price for the choices we make.  We chose the road less travelled.

This is where my philosophy differs from the author.   I don’t believe we have to “pay a price” for our choices.  I believe we can have it all. It’s the law of attraction.  His statement about paying the price has a negative scarcity to it.  The poor artist mentality is a perfect example of a limiting belief. But I do believe we chose the road less travelled, and follow our muse.

The Moment You Turn Pro

What’s your moment of turning pro?   According to Steven that moment has stuck with him.  There is a point in our lives when we turn pro and there is no turning back.

Turning pro is when you finally listen to that still small voice inside your head and find the courage to admit your secret dream.

When you turn pro you won’t change, you will have the same weaknesses.  You will not achieve enlightenment.   You just stop running – you turn around and face your fears and deal with your habits.  For this is the real secret.

It’s these habits and characteristics and the consistent following of them that allow you to cross that line – to Turn Pro.

Turning Pro still requires a constant push.  Steven suggests several ways of practicing your art: space, time, intent, humility, and mystery. All factors that help you with your work. All qualities found in a professional that ensures you stay that way.

For it’s not that resistance disappears when you turn pro, you just recognize it easier and deal with it.

In the end, what was it for?

I love how Steven ends this book.  We don’t turn pro for ourselves, the work and sacrifice are about the audience: readers, moviegoers, site visitors, listeners, gamers, gallery-goers, or software users.

Our work brings a gift to those people.   So if you can’t get over your fears for yourself, get over it for your future audience. They’re waiting…

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